Tether Freezes $1.6M in USDT Linked to Terrorism Financing, Acknowledged by U.S. Authorities

Tether, a prominent entity in the digital assets sector, has been recognized by U.S. authorities for its proactive measures in freezing approximately $1.6 million in USDT linked to terrorism financing. This move is part of a larger civil forfeiture initiative announced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), targeting around $2 million in digital assets associated with terrorist organizations, according to Tether.

Collaborative Efforts with Authorities

The funds were connected to wallets associated with Buy Cash Money and Money Transfer Company (BuyCash), a financial network based in Gaza. Tether's swift action in freezing and reissuing the USDT underscores its commitment to aiding lawful recovery processes. The company's efforts are in coordination with law enforcement investigations, which identified these wallets in the secondary market.

Global Law Enforcement Engagement

Over the past year, Tether has actively collaborated with global law enforcement in multiple jurisdictions, contributing to significant seizures of illicit funds. Recently, Tether was acknowledged by Brazilian authorities for blocking R$32 million (approximately $6.2 million USD) in a money laundering operation involving the Klever Wallet platform. Additionally, in June, the DOJ recognized Tether's assistance in an enforcement action that led to the seizure of approximately $225 million in USDT.

Earlier this year, Tether supported the U.S. Secret Service in freezing $23 million tied to the Russian-sanctioned exchange Garantex and helped freeze $9 million related to the Bybit hack. To date, Tether has blocked over 5,000 wallets, with more than 2,800 in coordination with U.S. agencies.

Commitment to Combating Financial Crime

Tether's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, emphasized the company's dedication to transparency and swift action against abuse, leveraging blockchain technology's traceability. "Tether’s strength lies in the transparency of blockchain technology and our ability to act decisively when abuse is detected," Ardoino stated. Tether remains committed to collaborating with law enforcement globally to combat financial crime and protect the integrity of the digital asset ecosystem.

Through its responsive wallet-freezing policy, Tether has frozen over $2.9 billion in USDT linked to illicit activities. The company's actions align with the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List and various national regulatory bodies, aiming to swiftly address sanctioned individuals or criminal networks.

This latest operation highlights the advantages of operating on public, transparent blockchains, enabling the traceability and recovery of illicit funds. Tether's ongoing efforts demonstrate its pivotal role in enhancing the security and accountability of the digital currency landscape.